Annual General Meeting of the Guyana Gold and Diamond Miners Association AGM

An emphatic and emotional presentation by head of the Women’s Miners Association was one of the highlights of the Annual General Meeting of the Guyana Gold and Diamond Miners Association AGM . The body has adopted the theme ‘One for all and All for one’, as it seeks to confront several challenges facing the vital Industry. President of the GGDMA Patrick Harding identified the impending ban on the use of mercury to recover gold, the refusal of the GGMC to accept fees from small miners for claims in Amerindian reserves and the non-registration of new River claims as the main concerns. He said that the Association has always encouraged the safe use of mercury by its members and noted that the alternative methods being floated may not be ready for sometime,

Harding says the association was also uncomfortable with the accusations of smuggling levelled against the associations members and also noted that with the increasing incidence of crime in the mining districts security is paramount and the industry will demand the protection it deserves.

The women miners expressed solidarity with the GGDNA and urged its members to work together and present a united front to tackle an industry that is facing a whole lot of disrespect.

Gold continues to carry record prices on the world market being sold at over 1600 us per ounce. Over 360,000 ounces were declared last year and the Ministry of Natural Resources has said the gold and diamond sectors need more regulations. The GGDMA has said that it has no confidence in Minister Persaud’s handling of the Mining sector .